More info: 58,272 pennies make up the national motto, "In God We Trust"

Fremont County officials are anticipating a decrease in tax revenue because of the recent Royal Gorge Fire.

"The fear is that some of the tourists who were planning on coming will not come," Board of Fremont County Commissioners Chair Debbie Bell said during Tuesday's regular meeting. "I think we all need to kind of pitch in and do what we can to shop local, stay local and talk to everybody that you know - Fremont County is still an amazing place to come.

Norden

"We have so many wonderful thing here. Spend your money locally, and we all will be better off for it."

Fremont County Finance Office Director Sunny Bryant said Sales and Use Tax collections for June was $383,256.

"Overall, year to date, we're down .01 percent, about $277, compared to where we were this time last year," she said.

Construction Use Tax collections is down 25.99 percent year to date from 2012.

"I have heard some reports in staff meetings that those numbers are increasing right now," she said. "Hopefully in the next few months that will catch up and we'll be in a little bit better shape."

Bryant said she is keeping a close eye on sales tax numbers, and will have a report in a couple of months on what impact the fire has had.

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Fremont County Clerk Katie Barr said her office in June collected $815,571.49, about about $4,708 more than was collected in June 2012.

Also on Tuesday, Commissioner Ed Norden said the John C. Fremont sculpture at Pathfinder Regional Park is expected to be installed and dedicated in late August. He said the needed funds were raised for artist Sheldon Roberts, along with money for the installation. Once Roberts is paid the $20,0000 and the installation is complete, the remainder of funds will go toward the artist.

In other business, Bell addressed the Penny Project at the War Memorial Park where "In God We Trust" will be spelled out with pennies dated from the Vietnam War era. Each penny represents an American soldier who died during the war.

"They removed the entire word 'God' to put those pennies on and then they will bring the word back," Bell said. "Then the next word will come down and then be reinstalled."

Norden said the War Memorial Park committee still needs about 300 pennies from 1966; 4,000 from 1967; and 4,000 from 1968 to complete the project.

"If you have not already sorted through your pennies, please do so," he said.

Pennies may be dropped off at the Fremont County Clerks office, 615 Macon Ave. in Room 101.

The board took the following action:

-Granted a two-year temporary cessation of the Conditional Use Permit for Indian Springs (Thorson) Mine by Indian Springs Mining.

-Approved a Special Event Liquor Permit for Cañon City Rodeo Association for midget wrestling Saturday at the rodeo grounds.

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